Dumelo pushes for cocoa price reforms to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods
Beyond pricing, Dumelo also raised concerns about the adverse effects of unregulated mining on agricultural lands. He called for immediate measures to structure the mining sector to ensure that cocoa farms remain unaffected by extractive activities.
Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate John Dumelo has called for fair pricing of cocoa to prevent farmers from selling their lands, stressing that economic incentives will play a crucial role in safeguarding the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Making a case when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointment Committee on Tuesday (25 February) Dumelo highlighted that many cocoa farmers are compelled to sell their lands due to financial hardships, a situation that could be remedied by ensuring they receive the right price for their produce.
“Giving cocoa farmers the right price will deter them from selling their cocoa farms,” Dumelo stated, underscoring the need for better financial returns for Ghana’s cocoa producers.
Beyond pricing, Dumelo also raised concerns about the adverse effects of unregulated mining on agricultural lands. He called for immediate measures to structure the mining sector to ensure that cocoa farms remain unaffected by extractive activities.
“The second one is also to restructure or structure the whole mining industry well so that wherever they mine, it wouldn’t be able to affect these cocoa farms. But I think that the main one is about pricing,” he added.
His remarks come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa industry faces significant challenges, including land conversion, climate change, and competition from other industries.
Industry experts have echoed similar concerns, warning that failure to address pricing disparities could further shrink the country’s cocoa production in the coming years.
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